Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Bordeaux Barlow’

Deep wine-red, fully double flowers rise above finely divided foliage from late spring into early summer, giving this aquilegia the character of an old-fashioned cottage-garden treasure. Unlike the familiar spurred flowers of many aquilegias, ‘Bordeaux Barlow’ belongs to the spurless, starry-flowered Barlow Series, whose story is connected with ‘Nora Barlow’named for the botanist and granddaughter of Charles Darwin. This is a very frost-hardy, deciduous perennial and often self-seeds, although seedlings may vary when other Aquilegias are flowering nearby. Its upright stems are also excellent for cutting. Height 60–80 cm.

Growing Conditions

Plant in full sun or partial shade in fertile, moist but freely draining soil. Afternoon shade is beneficial in hot, dry gardens. Water while establishing and remove finished flower stems to reduce self-seeding, or leave some to mature if naturalising is wanted.

Uses
Ideal for cottage gardens, mixed perennial borders, woodland edges, pollinator planting and cut-flower gardens.